Mysterious ‘Alien-Like’ Creature Discovered on Australian Shore Identified As Goose Barnacles, Valued at 125 USD per Pound

Experts soon identified the peculiar specimen as a colony of goose barnacles, a crustacean species known for attaching itself in clusters to floating debris or marine structures. The University of South Australia marine ecologist Dr Zoe Doubleday noted a particular interest in the barnacle colony’s notable size and density, highlighting its unique appearance and ecological significance. Have Aliens Visited Earth? Senior US Official Answers Whether UFOs Ever Landed on Our Planet.

Local media reported Dr. Zoe Doubleday’s surprise at the discovery, describing it as a likely remnant of an old jetty pylon or another marine structure that had spent considerable time submerged, allowing the dense barnacle colony to form. Dr. Doubleday proposed that the cluster might have drifted to shore after detaching from its original source. While they bear a visual similarity to oysters and clams, goose barnacles are actually closer relatives to lobsters and crabs. Each shell encloses tiny, jointed legs, enabling the crustacean to filter plankton and nutrients from the water. Known as “percebes” in Spanish and Portuguese, these unusual creatures are even valued as a delicacy in parts of Europe and North America. Alien Connection: Why We May Never Meet Aliens, According to Psychology Expert.

Foxface Natural, a restaurant in New York City’s East Village renowned for its wild game, features goose barnacles on its menu, served with melted butter at a hefty price of up to 125 USD per pound. This high cost is attributed to the barnacles' rarity and the perilous harvesting process that involves retrieving them from steep cliffs in rough seas. The name “goose barnacle” has historical significance, rooted in a medieval myth where early naturalists mistakenly believed these barnacles were eggs laid by barnacle geese, leading to the notion that goslings hatched directly from them along European shores.